Packer for oil wells



May 24, 1932. G. MEYER 1,859,744

PACKER FOR OIL WELLS Fld Jan. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN To? @5w/W0 Mil/1? ,0T TOR/viv May 24, G. MEYER I PACKER 'FOR oIL WELLS Filed Jan. 2e, 1929 2l Smets-sheet ,2

GERA/Rp MEYER' Patented May Z4, 1932 GERHARD MEYER, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA PACKER FOR OIL WELLS Application led January 26, 1929. Serial No. 335,288.

My invention relates to packing devices, and more particularly to a novel packer for sealing two adjacent members in fluid-tight relationship.

In the oil-well drilling art, as well as in other arts, it is desirable to be able to seal two adjacent members in fluid-tight engagement. It is often necessary to effect this seal at a point which is inaccessible, and it thus becomes necessary to use a special type of packer which may be operated from a remote point. Various types of packers have been devised, but these packers are open to the objection that they have a swabbing action when the seal is to be effected below the body of a fluid. Thus, in the oil-well drilling industry it is frequently necessary to seal concentric pipes or tubings at a point below the level of a uid in these tubings.

It is an object of this invent-ion to provide a packer which will not exert a swabbing action either before being set or after being released when this packer is moved relative to the member it is adapted toengage in fluidtight relationship.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel packer having a plurality of annular packing members and a plurality of spacing rings therebetween.

member, this member being preferably wound on a bias.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a novel packer which is locked in'retracted position until such a time as it is in a. desired position. This -is an extremely important feature inasmuch as certain packers at present in use have a tendency to be set prematurely, due to ythe fluid pressure exert- Qf-ed on the packer when the packer is moved.

Still another object of this invention is to Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel packer having a floating foot member which engages the packing member and is engaged by suitable j'aw members.

Further objects and advantages of this in'- 55 vention will be made evident hereinafter. Referring to the drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my 1nvention,-

F 1 is al view, partially in section, illuseo trating t-he packer of my invention when being lowered into a tubing, and before being set therein.

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in section, illustrating the packer of my invention after bemg set.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the packer in released position.

Figs. 4;, 6, and 7 are sectional views taken on corresponding lines of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 8 are sectional views taken on corresponding lines of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the sllps of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating 76 it section of a packing member of my invenion.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view illustrating the novel cooperation between the spacing ringsand the packing rings of my invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the packer of my invention is adapted to seal a primary or inner member 12 relative to a secondary or outer member 13. This outer member may be in the form of tubing as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the inner member may be in the form of a tubing extending concentric with the outer member 13.

Secured to the lower end of the inner member 12 is a head member 15 to whichare secured inner and outer sleeves 16 and "17 which may be secured at their lower ends by a connecting member 18, and the sleeve 16 may extend downward from this connecting member, as indicated at 19, if desired. While I have illustrated two sleeves.`16 and 17, this particular combination is not essential tothe v operativeness or novelty of 'this invention. On the smaller, sized packers only one sleeve is ordinarily utilized.

ing engagement with the sleeve 17, thus keeping the packing ring concentric with theaxis of the sleeve.

The head member 15, the foot member 20, and the spacing rings 24 have complementary surfaces which" are adapted to come into engagement to form a Huid-tight metal-tmetal seal. Thus, the lower portion of the head member 1,5 is provided with a primary surface 2,8, while the foot member is provided with a secondary surface 29. These surfaces are preferably formed on an angle of relative to the axis of the sleeve 17. Primary 4and secondary surfaces 30 and 31 are formed on each of the spacing rings 24, the surface 30 being complementary to the primary surface 28 of the head member15, while the secondary surface 31 is complementary to the secondary surface 29 of the foot member 20. The surfaces 30 and 31 are formed at an angle of 45 so as to correspond to the angle of the surfaces 28 and 29. It should thus be apparent that the primary surface 3() of each spacing ring 24 is complementary to the secondary surface 31 of the adjacent 'spacing ring, and by sufliciently moving the foot member 20 toward the head member 15 the spacing rings 24 will come into engagement with each other and with the head and foot members. This condition is showii in Fig. 2, at which time the by-pass 25 is closed at itsvupper end by the engagement between the primary surface 28 of the head member 15 and the primary surface 30 of the uppermost spacing ring 24. The lower end of this by-pass communicates with the channel 21 of the foot member, and with the hole 22 therethrough.

Spacedbetween each of the spacing rings 24, and also between the head and foot members and these rings, is a pluralit of packing members in the form of pac ing rings 33. Each of these rings is formed with a central core 34 of soft flexible material, preferably soft rubber or sponge rubber, this core being annular in shape and circular in cross-section. A cloth member 35 is wound around the core 34 on a bias so that the individual threads forming the cloth member spiral around the core 34 rather than eX- tending parallel to the axis of this core. The cloth member 35 and core 34 arethen vulcanized by well-known processes. This particular type of packing ring permits a material amount of eX ansion and compression without danger o the strands of the cloth member 35 failing. Furthermore, such' a packing ring will not become vulcanized against the casing after being set some time and after being subjected to the high temperatures sometimes experienced in situations where the use of a packer is necessary.

The packing rings 33 are of such a diameter'that when the packer is being lowered into place in aposition shown in Fig. 1, the periphery of each packin ring engages the secondary surface 31 of t e spacing ring 24 immediately thereabove and rests on a radial surface 36 of the spacing ring immediately therebelow. As the foot member 20 is moved toward the head member 15, the packing rings roll on the secondary surfaces 31 of the packing rings, and come into engagement with a tapered surface 37 of each ring, this tapered surface terminating in a flange 38. Similarly, the uppermost packing ring 33 rolls from the primary surface 28 onto a tapered surface 39 of the head member 15.

The tapered surfaces 37 and 39 have been termed tertiary surfaces for the pur ose of distinguishing these surfaces from t e primary surfaces 28 and 30 and the secondary surfaces 29 and 31.` I prefer to form the tertiary surfaces 37 and 39 on an angle of 30 relative to the axis' of the sleeve 17, s0 that the tertiary surfaces are at a steeper angle than the primary and secondary surfaces.

As the foot member 2O moves further toward the head member 15 the packing rings 33 are moved outward into engagement with the outer member 13, due to their engagement with the tertiary tapered surfaces 37 and 39. After coming into engagement withthis outer member the packlng rings are deformed, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 11. I prefer to so proportion the packing rings 33 that the head member 15 and foot member 20 may come into surface contactwith the spacing rin s 24 when the packer is set, thus insuring a ouble seal; first, a metal-to-metal seal between the head and foot members and the spacing rings; and, second, a seal between the packing rings 33 and the outer member 13.

If, now, the foot member 2O be moved away from the head member 15, the packing rings 33 will assume a position shown in Fig. 3, but will remain distorted. These rings 33 and the spacing rings 24 will thus not fill the space between Vthe foot member 2O and the head member 15, thus opening the by-pass 25 at its upper end,as best shown in Fig. 3.

If, now, the packer is to be'moved relative to the outer member 13, no swabbng action will take place, any'uid above or below the vpacker being displaceable through the bypass 25 in a direction depending upon the direction of the movement of the packer relative to the outer member 13.

' Fig. 1. VExtending upward from, and welded relative to, the slip cage 45 is a plurality spond to the taper of the foot member of spring arms 49 which forms a part of a plurality of slips 50, these slips having jaws 51 at their upper ends. The outer surface of Veach jaw is provided with teeth 52, and the inner surface of each vjaw is frusto-conical in shape and defines a tapered surface 53. These tapered surfaces of the slips correwhen the jaws are in a position shown in Fig. 2. `When the jaws are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the contour of the tapered surface 53 does not correspond to the tapered contour of the foot member 20. Thus, in Fig. 7 I have illustrated the jaws in the lower position wherein- 'the surface 53 engages the foot member 20 in line contact ',Pinstead of surface contact. This line of contact is indicated by the line A--A of Fig. 9, and is also illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

A hook 55 is' formed on the lower portion of each jaw 51, as best illustrated in Fig. 9, this hook being bisected by the line A-A.

` The inner surface 56 of the hook 55 is formed continuous with the tapered surface 53 so that when the jaw 51 is in itsupper or engaged position shown in Fig. 2, the surface 56 engages the tapered surface of the footmember 20. When the slip 50 is in its lower position, indicated in Fig. 1, at which time the hook members 46 engage theV pins 47, the hooks 55 of each slip 5() enter a groove 57 formed by a ledge 58 extending outward from the bottom of the foot member 20. The.

` groove 57 is formed on an acute angle so that the slips are locked in la retracted position due to the engagement between the hook members 46 andthe pins 47 so that the jaw members cannot move radially outward until the hook members 46 disengage 'the pins 47.

a manner to retard the movement ofthe slip cage 45. c*

The operation of my-invention is as fol-v lows:

Before lowering the packer into the outer member 13 the hook members 46 are hooked f vention'.

relative to the pins 47, thus causing the packer to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The packer is then lowered into position and any fluid in the outer member 13 is displaced around the packing rings 33 during this lowering movement, due to the fact that the outer periph-ery of each of these rings is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer member 13.

When the packer is in the desired position, the operator turns the inner member 12 to the left, as viewed from above, thus releasing the pins 47 from the hook members 46. The inner member is then lowered. During this lowering movement the slip cage 45 is no longer restrained by the pins 47,

and the springs 60 hold this slip cage relative to the outer member 13. Thus, any downward movement'of the inner member 12 movesv the jaws 51 upward on the foot member 20 into engagement with the outer member 13. A fur/ther downwardA '.movement of the inner member 112 compresses the packing rings 33 into a position as shown,

in Fig. 2, at which time an effective seal is produced, as previously described. When it.

becomes desirable to release the packer, the inner member 12 is moved upward into a position shown in Fig. 3, thus releasing the jaws 51 and separating the head and foot members 15 and 20. At this time the pins 47 may be made to engage the hooks` 46 by turning the inner member 12 a quarter tur-n to the right.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the packing rings receive a permanent deformation' after -being set. fOftentimes, the outer diameter of these rings is very close to the inner diameter of the outer member 13 due to this deforma ion. As the packer is moved upward an fluid above the packer mustxpass through or around this packer.` To prevent any swabbing action, I have provided the by-pass 25 which is at this time completely open, as best. shown in Fig. 3, thus allowing the fluid to bev displaced, as indicated by the arrows of Fig. 3.

ItY should be apparent that my packer is not limited to the oil-well drilling art, but finds utility in any art whereit is desired to seal a primary and secondary member in fluid-tight relationship relative to each other. The double seal provided by the engagement between the packing rings 33 and the outer member 13, together with the metal-to-metal seal provided by the engagement of the primary and secondary surfaces of the head member 15, foot memberv 20, and spacing rings 24, is an importantI part of this invThus, if any particular packing ring should fail, the rings above and below would not be subjected to excessive strain even if a large pressure difference were mainmary and secondary surfaces 30 and 31 of the spacing rings 24 adjacent this particular packmg ring..

Furthermore, the particular form of packing ring illustrated has been found to be eX- tremely satisfactory in this type of packer, and my invention is not limited to the use of this packing ring in the particular packer illustrated inasmuch as this ring finds utility in various other capacities.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a packer, the combination of a sleeve; a head member on said sleeve, said head member providing a primary surface; a foot member movable on said sleeve toward said head member, said foot member providing a secondary surface;a plurality of flexible packing rings around said sleeve and between' said head and foot members; and a spacing ring between adjacent packing rings, said spacing ring providing primary and secondary surfaces which are complementary to said primary and secondary surfaces of said head and foot members and engageable therewith after said packing rings are suiiicientlyjcompre'ssed, and said packing and spacing rings being formed larger in diameter than said sleeve in a manner to provide a by-pass opening therebetween.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said foot member has a by-pass hole communicating with said by-pass opening.

3. In' a packer, the combination of: a sleeve; a head member on said sleeye, sald head member providing a primary surface; a foot member movable on said sleeve toward said head member, said foot member providing a secondary surface; a plurality of flexible packing rings around said sleeve and between said head and foot members; and a plurality of spacing rings,'one of said rings being positioned between each of said packing rings, each of said spacing rings including primary and secondary surfaces complementary to said primary and secondary surfaces of said head and foot members, said) sleeve and said spacing rings being so co-,i`

`relativelyformed that by-pass openings are formed between said sleeve and said spacing rings.

4. In a packer'for sealing the space between a primary and a secondary member,

the combination of: a tapered foot member .j movable relative to said primary member;-

packing means compressed into engagement with said secondary member'by said movement of said foot member; `a slip cage movable relative to said primary member; 4slips carried by said slip cage andvmovable along said foot member into engagementwith said secondary member; means for detachablyI securing said slip cage relative to'said nrimary member; and means for locking said slips relative to said foot member when said 'slip cage and said primary member are detachably secured together.

5. In a packer of the class described, the combination of: a supporting structure; a plurality of packing members on said supportin structure compressing means whereby sai packing members are caused to occupy a sealing position; and a spacing member by said packing members are caused to occupy a sealing position; and a spacing member placed between adjacent packingmembers and forming a passage between said supporting structure and said packing members after said packing members have been caused to occupy a sealing position, said spacing member having actual contact with said compressing means when said packing members are in sealing position, to separate said packing members from said passage.

7. In a packer of the class described, the combination of: a supporting structure; a plurality of packing members on said supporting structure; compressing means whereby said packing members are caused to 0ccupy a sealiig position; and a spacing member placed between adjacent packing mem- Y.

Vbers and forming a passage between said supporting structure and said packing members after said p-ackin members have been caused to occupy a -sea ing position, said spacing member being separated from said compressing means by said packing members prior to the operation of thecompressing means and said spacingV member having actual contact with said compressing means when said packing members are in sealing position, to separate saidy packing membersfrom said passage.

8. In a packer for sealing the space between a'primary and a secondary member, the combina-tion of: ahead member on said primaryfmember; a foot member movable on said primary member relative to said head lmember; and means comprising a plurality of said packing means being so formed as to provide a by-pass opening between the eX- terior face of said primary member and the interior face of said packing means.

9. In apacker for sealin the space between a primary and a secon ar member, the combination of: a head mem er on said primary member; a foot member movable on said primary member relative to said head member; a plurality of flexible packing members compressible between said head member and said foot member; and a spacing member between adjacent packing members, said spacing member providing a passage around said primary member and within said packing member after said packing members are compressed by said head and foot members.

1-0. In a packer for sealing the space between a primary and a secondary member, the combination of: a tapered foot member movable relative tosaid primary member, said tapered foot member having a notch formed therein; packing means compressed into engagement with said secondary member by said movement of said foot member; a slip cage movable relative to said primary member; slips carried by said slip cage and movable along said foot member into engagement with said secondary member; means for detachably seuring said slip cage relative to said primary member; andl engaging means on said slips adapted to engage in said notch when said slips are in retracted position.

11. A packer including: a supporting structure; a holding means; means for releasably retaining said holding means from longitudinal movement on said supporting structure; a slip carried by said h ol'ding means; eipanding means for said slip; packing means adapted tobe actuated by movement of said expanding means on said supporting structure; and means for locking said slip to said expanding means when said slip is in retracted position whereby to prevent movement of said expanding means on said supporting structure.

12. In a packer for sealing the space between a primary and a secondary member, the combination of: a tapered foot member supported by and movable on said primary member; a slip cage movable relative to said primary member; slips carried by said slip cage and movable along said foot member into engagement' with said secondary member; means for detachably securing said slip cage relative to said primary member.; and

means for locking said slips relative to said foot member when said slip cage and said relative to said primary member; and means for locking said slips relative to said foot member when said slip cage and said primary member are detachably secured together, said slip locking means being released upon longitudinal movement of said slips.

14. In a packer -for sealing the space between a primary and a secondary member, the combination of: a tapered foot member movable relative to said primary member; packing means compressed into engagement with said secondary member by said movement of said foot member; a slip cage movable relative to said primary member; slips carried by said slip cage and movable along said foot member into engagement with said vsecondary member; means for detachably securing said slip cage relative to said primary member;

and means for preventing said foot member from moving away from said slips while said slip cage is locked to said primary member.

15. In a packer for sealingthe space between a primary and a secondary member, the combination of: a tapered foot member supported by and movable on said primary member; a slip cage movable relative to said primary member; slips carried by said slip cage and movable along said foot member into engagement with said secondary member; means for detachably securing said slip cage relative to said primary member; and means'for preventing said foot member from moving away from said slips while said slip cage is locked to said primary member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 21st day of January, 1929.

- GERHARD MEYER.

primary member are detachably secured together.- v l 13. In a packer for sealing the space between a primary and a secondary member, the vcombination of: a tapered foot member supported by and movable on said primary member; a slip cage movable relative to said primary member; siips carried by said slip cage and movable along said foot member into engagement with said secondary member;

means for detachably securing saidl slipcage ERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION.

' -Pmm No. 1, S59, 144. 'may 24, 192.2.l

GERHARD MEYER.

It is hereby certified tha-lt error apnears in theprinted specification ofv the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 117, claim 8, before the word "means" insert the word packing; and that the said Letters n Patent (should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of thc case in the Patent Office.

Signed-and sealed this 12th day of July, A; D. 1932.

I M. \J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

